Understanding the Basics of Instagram Reels
What Are Reels?
- Instagram Reels are looping videos that play between 15 and 90 seconds long.
- Reels are great for audience growth, reach, and awareness. These short videos help create creative, educational, or entertaining content for your audience.
- Here, you can express your brand message, while getting discovered by people who may have not known about your product or service.
- Reels are Instagram’s version of TikTok. They provide creative editing tools, effects, and audio.
Reels are currently favored by Instagram’s algorithm, which means the algorithm is more likely to recommend them to users who don’t follow you than feed posts.
Users can also discover Reels in a specific section of the Instagram app. A scrollable feed consisting of trending Reels (Instagram’s version of the TikTok For You page) can be accessed through the Reels icon at the bottom of the Instagram app’s home page.
Posting on Instagram should be based on YOUR analytics and what works best for YOUR page! However, a good rule of thumb for reels would be to post a reel 3-5 times a week for consistent growth and engagement.
When creating a reel on Instagram, you now have an easier way to create a reel by using pre-made templates. Instagram recently introduced this game-changing feature, allowing you to copy clip timings of an existing Reel quickly. This will save you SO much time and effort. Simply click “use template,” then start adding your video clips!
4 Tips for Making Successful Reels
1. Understanding the Algorithm
Understanding the way the Reels algorithm works can help you get more views from the Explore page and the Reels tab. The algorithm is the “matchmaker” of the platform, directing Reels to certain Instagram users. It is no secret… the algorithm can be tricky. However, using trending sounds, trends, and hashtags will help bring attention to your Reels.
2. Create a Well-Structured Reel
When creating a new Reel, do not post, just to post. Have a strategy and a structured plan for the Reel. Get to the point! Your Reels should consist of 3 sections:
- Attention Getter (Hook)
- Educate, Entertain, or Inspire your audience
- Call to Action
Including these simple, yet organized, sections in your reel can be extremely beneficial.
3. Get creative
Next, get creative!! For example, look outside of your niche when using trending sounds to find content ideas. For example, find a sports coach or a makeup/fashion account that is using a popular sound/trend. Take this and relate it back to YOUR niche.
4. Consistency
Lastly, is consistency! Consistency is KEY. The content you post on your account is helping you build your audience and engagement. When you are inconsistent with what you post and/or how much you post the algorithm becomes confused and does not know where the place your account. You risk losing your audience’s interest or attracting a different audience you are not trying to reach.
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